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Can anyone help please!! is there something else I can use instead of Aceto-orcein for testing Nucleic Acids, (Bio prac.)

Thanks Macca

the only other one i know is methyl green pyronin....pretty obscure

Feulgen's or Gallocyanin-chrome alum would also do it but none are really suitable for a school lab.

Aceto-orcein stain:

1. Mix 1g synthetic orcein with 25mL glacial acetic acid and 20 mL distilled water.
2. Boil for 4-5 minutes ONLY, in a conical flask with narrow neck. (a glass filter funnel can be placed in the mouth of the flask to act as a simple condenser if desired)
3. Filter the solution while hot. Then add 5mL glacial acetic acid and stir to dissolve any orcein appearing on the surface of the mixture after filtration.
4. 3-4 drops of glycerol maybe added if desired. This help retard evaporation of the stain from temporary squash mounts. Aceto-orcein stain keeps for years IF TIGHTLY STOPPERED, mut may require re-filtration after a prolonged standing.

-from Biological Science: the web of life published by the Australian Academy of Science.